Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 64

Tīrtha-māhātmya and Rudra’s Samanvaya Teaching

Maṅkaṇaka Episode

Devanagari script

तस्य सा परमा माया प्रकृतिस्त्रिगुणात्मिका / प्रोच्यते मुनिर्भिशक्तिर्जगद्योनिः सनातनी

Transliteration

tasya sā paramā māyā prakṛtistriguṇātmikā / procyate munirbhiśaktirjagadyoniḥ sanātanī

Translation

Sua Māyā suprema—isto é, Prakṛti, constituída das três guṇas—é declarada pelos sábios como a Śakti eterna, o ventre de onde o universo nasce.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (gen), एकवचन

• सा: she; that
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परमा: supreme
• परमा: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• माया: Māyā; illusion/power
• माया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti; primordial nature
• प्रकृतिः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रि-गुण-आत्मिका: having the three guṇas as its nature
• त्रि-गुण-आत्मिका: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘त्रयः गुणाः यस्याः आत्मा/स्वभावः’

• प्रोच्यते: is called; is said
• प्रोच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु) with उपसर्ग प्र-
• Form: लट्-लकार, कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘प्र + उच्यते’

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (करण/Agent-in-passive; by sages)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instr), बहुवचन

• शक्तिः: power; energy
• शक्तिः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जगत्-योनिः: source/womb of the world
• जगत्-योनिः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘जगतः योनि:’

• सनातनी: eternal
• सनातनी: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing the sages/seekers on tattva (Prakriti–Purusha) doctrine

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maya
• Prakriti
• Triguna
• Shakti
• Sages (Munis)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It distinguishes the Lord (the conscious Supreme) from His manifesting power: Prakṛti/Māyā is His eternal Śakti and the cosmic source, while He remains the possessor/supporter of that power.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports tattva-viveka used in Yoga: discerning Purusha (the Lord/Self) from Prakṛti (triguṇa Māyā). Such discrimination underlies Pāśupata-oriented renunciation of guṇa-bound identification and steadiness in contemplation.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By presenting a shared metaphysical language—Śakti, Māyā, and triguṇa Prakṛti as the cosmic cause—this teaching aligns Vaishnava and Shaiva frameworks, where the Supreme (Hari/Hara) is one reality with an eternal manifesting power.